How To Make Money With Your Camera

Several millions homes nowadays have some kind of photography equipment. Some
operators are strictly amateurs but others do a professional job shooting for
fun, even with very inexpensive equipment.

If you own a camera and can take some reasonably good pictures, you
definitely can make money with your hobby by selling pictures.

The market for pictures is tremendous. It has been estimated that magazines
and newspapers buy over 60 millions photos a year, although most of the pictures
are taken by professional photographers, there is a good deal of non
professional hobbyists making a good extra income selling their pictures to
specialized markets, little known by the majority of people.

This information is intended to help you find a market for your pictures,
assuming you already take pictures good enough to be sold. If you feel that your
work could be improved, there are a number of courses available, and you can
also develop professional touch and technical know-how by simply subscribing to
specialized magazines.

There is an incredible amount of markets for selling your pictures, and the
number is growing every day.

The beginners should avoid markets already overcrowded by professional
competitors, like very well known magazines, which obviously deal only with
professionals.

By consuming a great amount of pictures, maintaining a constant demand for
new ones, and paying less than well known magazines, they avoid the competition
of professional and industrial photographers, and buy mostly from non
professionals like yourself.

Special interest magazines attract very special groups of readers. For
example, magazines on hobbies, sports, gardening, etc...They are bought by
subscriptions or on newsstands.

Trade journals are directed at very special professional and Trades. They
generally sold only by subscription.

To begin with, it would be advisable for you to get a book on professional
photography from your local library. This step will enable you to get acquainted
with copyright laws and special tips for selling your pictures.

The starting photographer should concentrate on subject he is familiar with,
for example a special hobby and what he enjoys shooting the most, whether it is
sceneries, children, animals, etc...

By finding out what is your specialty, you will be able to select your
market and determine what magazines could be interested in your work.

The following guide is just a sample of companies in the market for photos.
It is difficult to keep such a directory current as companies constantly change
their policies, addresses, editors and so forth. It is up to you to develop your
own markets by submitting photos you believe to be appropriate to editor's
needs. After the addresses are listed the rates paid more for extraordinary
subjects depending of the news value and the quality for the accepted photo.

A simple equipment should produce pictures good enough to sell, but of
course, if you own special accessories, use them!

After you have selected the field you want to specialize in and found several
magazines related to your specialty, study what kind of pictures the editors
are buying. A general description of picture requirements is often listed in the
magazines. You can also find out by looking at the pictures used in previous
issues. Submit only the pictures you consider as good or better than the ones
being used.

Send your pictures to the Picture Editor of the magazine by finding the
address in the publication itself or in the Directory of Trade Journals at your
local library, if the publication is not sold on newsstands.

If you are a beginner, start offering standard black and white prints, which
are easier to sell because they actually are the ones having the greatest
market.

Here is how your prints should be prepared in order to sell them:

* Glossy paper is preferred. Single weight paper via cheaper and require less
postage when mailed. Pictures must be flat.

* Most publication (But not all of them) Prefer 8"x10". Check the
specific requirements of the publication before you prepare your photos for
sell.

* Number each negative, so each print you make will have a number.

* Order a rubber stamp with your name, address, telephone number and an extra
line for the number of the picture and stamp this information on the back of
the print you want to offer.

* Always use stiff cardboard between the prints you are mailing to protect
them, and make a neat package.

* Use kraft envelopes and always write "please don't bend" with a
red felt on the envelope to avoid any improper handling of your pictures.

* As you cannot expect to sell all the pictures you submit, include a
self-addressed return envelope with enough postage, so the ones rejected can be
mailed back to you.

* It is not necessary to send a letter with the pictures as it will not help
to sell the pictures.

* Make sure to obtain written consent from anyone whose picture you have
taken and intend to sell. You can obtain the standard forms called "Model
Release" in many photo shops, and when you send your picture to the editor,
enclose a copy of the release with them.

Do not offer the same picture to more than one publication at the same time,
but if your pictures are rejected by one magazine send them to other
publications.

Many amateurs are making money in this little known field. You will be able
to do the same by following the simple advices outlined in this report.